I assume that the majority of people wouldn’t consider a food factory visit as ‘fun’, unless they were sneaking in to visit their partner for lunch. However, many obviously don’t realise that South Africa offers some first-class factory tours.

Each of these is a fun way to discover how produce is made from scratch, making this the perfect outing for your child’s school project, or for the eco-conscious among you. Each of the below mentioned factories will give you greater insight into the industry in question, and plenty of tasting samples.

Fresh Cacao and its seeds. By EverJean (Flickr)1.  Chocolate Factory Tour, Paarl, Western Cape

Let us just face facts: no one is immune to the first scent, or bite, of a decadent chocolate. It’s one of those fantastic substances which improves your mood, fills you with happiness, and keeps you coming back for more, and more! If you’re keen to discover the secrets behind chocolate making, then a tour of the DV Artisan Chocolate factories is in order.

Here, you’ll discover the Aztec origins of cacao (the main chocolate ingredient) and why it became known as a ‘food of the gods’. You’ll learn how to taste chocolate, as opposed to just eating it, as well as detect from just snapping off a block of chocolate, if it’s of good quality. The Aztec Emperor Montezuma has been quoted as saying about cacao: “The divine drink, which builds up resistance and fights fatigue. A cup of this precious drink permits a man to walk for a whole day without food.” So what are you waiting for? Phone and ensure there’ll be space for you at their Tasting Room and Visual Factory in Paarl.  Tel: 021-863-0854.

Macadamia nuts on the tree. By Koren van Seijen (Flickr) (Flickr)

2. Royal Macadamia Nut Factory, Levhubu, Limpopo

Perhaps not everyone is nuts for nuts, but this factory has plenty to keep even the most dower visitor enthralled. While touring the factory you’ll discover some of the amazing benefits you can receive from eating macadamia nuts.

Little gems of wisdom will be revealed and include facts such as macadamia nuts contain no cholesterol, have one of the highest monounsaturated fat levels, and are very high in fibre. After your trip around the factory, where you’ll learn about how they are roasted and sorted, consider buying some of the macadamia products. To book a tour call ahead. Tel: 015-583-0394.

Avariety of tempting cheeses. By Charles Haynes (Flickr)

3. Van Gaalen Dutch Cheese Farm, Hartbeespoort Dam, Gauteng

In a similar vein to chocolate, cheese comes in a very close second for providing a mouthful of creamy, rich goodness, which can be eaten alone or combined with a variety of produce. Any cheese is fantastic when paired with a crisp or sweet white wine, and is often used as a summer appetizer along with meat and crackers.

While on the factory tour you’ll learn about the cheese making process, you’ll discover why farm cheese (aka Boerenkaas) tastes so much better than processed cheese, as well as how many litres of milk go into making just a kilogram of cheese. Once you’re done with the tour, head to the restaurant and enjoy their variety of cheese types, as well as other cuisines on offer. At present there are 30 different cheese makes, and these include Gouda, herb feta, nut cheese, and stinging nettle cheese – which I personally love. The tour is available Wednesday and Saturday mornings, but allowances can be made for large group bookings. Tel: 012-207-1289.

Let us know where your favorite food factory is, and why it’s so great.

Main image credited to Siona Karen (Flickr)